Fiber Bridging Research Articles

A Hierarchical Hydrogel Impregnation Strategy Enables Brittle-Failure-Free 3D-Printed Bioceramic Scaffolds.

3D-printed bioceramic scaffolds offer great potential for bone tissue engineering (BTE) but their inherent brittleness and reduced mechanical properties at high porosities can easily result in catastrophic fractures. Herein, this study presents a hierarchical hydrogel impregnation strategy, incorporating poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogel into the macro- and micropores of bioceramic scaffolds and synergistically reinforcing it via freeze-casting assisted solution substitution (FASS) in a tannic acid (TA)-glycerol solution. By effectively mitigating catastrophic brittle failures, the hydrogel-impregnated scaffolds showcase three- and 100-fold enhancement in mechanical energy absorption under compression (5.05MJm-3) and three-point bending (3.82MJm-3), respectively. The reinforcement mechanisms are further investigated by experimental and simulation analyses, revealing a multi-scale synergy of fracture and fragmentation resistance through macro and micro-scale fiber bridging, and nano and molecular-scale hydrogel reinforcement. Also, the scaffolds acquire additional antibacterial and drug-loading capabilities from the hydrogel phase while maintaining favorable cell biocompatibility. Therefore, this study demonstrates a facile yet effective approach for preparing brittle-failure-free bioceramic scaffolds with enhanced biological functionalities, showcasing immense potential for BTE applications.

Dynamic response of ultra-high performance engineered cementitious composites (UHP-ECC) under low-velocity impact: Effect of waste rubber incorporation and low temperatures

This study aims to explore the dynamic response of ultra-high performance engineered cementitious composites (UHP-ECC) incorporating waste crumb rubber (CR) at various temperatures, focusing on its potential to enhance the resilience and sustainability of civil infrastructures against low-velocity impacts. To date, the impact behaviour of UHP-ECC under low temperatures has rarely been explored. Firstly, natural river sand and waste tyre CR was utilized to prepare the UHP-ECC. Then, a series of mechanical tests, including compression test, flexural test and uniaxial tensile test were carried out to investigate the static mechanical properties of rubberised UHP-ECCs. In addition, the effects of different waste CR incorporations (0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%) and various temperatures (25 °C, −5 °C, −30 °C, −50 °C, −100 °C and −196 °C) were comprehensively investigated by low-velocity impact tests with constant impact energy. Lastly, the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) model was introduced to evaluate the overall performance of UHP-ECC. It was found that the use of river sand and CR significantly enhanced the tensile ductility and impact toughness of UHP-ECC. Impact energy primarily dissipates through damage such as matrix crack initiation, propagation, and fibre pull-out/rupture within the specimen. Adding CR notably decreased stress fluctuations during impact at room temperature, facilitating steady state energy absorption. Moreover, the time to reach peak impact force decreased with decreasing temperature across all UHP-ECC groups. At room temperature during impact process, fibre failure mode is dominated by pull-out failure, while lower temperatures lead to increased fibre rupture at the cracking surface. In low-temperature conditions, the impact response of rubberised UHP-ECC necessitates a comprehensive consideration of the synergistic effects, including material contraction, fibre bridging capacity, rubber phase transition, and water freezing.

Experimental exploration of fracture behavior (pure mode III) in eco-friendly steel fiber-reinforced self-compacting concrete with waste tempered glass as coarse aggregates

To aid in the creation of sustainable structures, scientists have utilized waste materials found in the environment to serve as alternatives for traditional resources in the construction sector. They have undertaken extensive investigations pertaining to this matter. In this particular study, tempered glass as waste glass coarse aggregate (WGCA) was substituted for natural coarse aggregate (NCA) at varying proportions of 15%, 30%, and 45% in the formulation of eco-friendly self-compacting concrete (SCC), combined with hooked-end steel fibers (SFs) at various volumes. The study assessed concrete’s flowability, permeability, compressive strength, and fracture parameters at 28 and 56 days. A total of 240 edge-notched disc bending samples (ENDB) and 60 cubic samples (150 × 150 mm) were tested to assess fracture resilience and compressive strength, respectively. The results showed that increasing SF and WGCA content reduced slump flow diameter and blockage ratio, particularly at higher levels. The solidified characteristics of all specimens incorporating SF and WGCA displayed heightened attributes when contrasted with the reference sample. Among the entire array of specimens, WG15SF0.5 and WG30SF0.5 exhibited the most superior performance, demonstrating an average percentage elevation of 20.29 and 27.63 in both compressive strength and fracture toughness assessments across the different curing periods. SF had the most significant impact on post-cracking behavior by enhancing load-bearing capacity through a bridging fiber mechanism. Through a comparison of the influence of SFs and WGCA on the fracture toughness of pure mode III, it was observed that the inclusion of SF in samples with a 30% replacement of WGCA resulted in an average increase of approximately 15.48% and 11.1% in this mode at the ages of 28 and 56 days, respectively, compared to the control sample.

Behavior of ultra-high-performance concrete under combined tensile and bending action

This paper attempts to investigate the mechanical behavior of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) under combined tensile and bending action. For this purpose, a total of 72 specimens were tested under axial tension, pure bending, and eccentric tension loads, respectively. The test parameters included the steel fiber content (0 %, 1 %, 2 %, and 3 %) and eccentricity ratio (0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, and ∞). It was found that all the specimens failed due to crack localization. The stresses and strains at cracking, peak, and ultimate load increased as the eccentricity ratio and steel fiber content rose. For specimens with a higher steel fiber content, the eccentricity ratio's effects on cracking and peak strength were more pronounced. For specimens with a commonly used fiber content of 2 %, specifically, cracking and peak strength increased by 29 % and 63 %, respectively, as the eccentricity ratio rose from 0.1 to 0.8. With the aid of full-field measurement on the specimen surface using digital image correlation, the fiber bridging mechanism of UHPC under combined tensile and bending loads was discussed. Then, a calculating method for determining the cracking load was proposed by introducing the plastic influence coefficient, which depended on the eccentricity ratio and steel fiber content. Finally, a unified approach for predicting the coupled strength of UHPC under combined tension and bending action was derived, and its robust applicability was verified through a database collected from the available literature.

Axial compression behavior of concrete-filled prefabricated aligned steel fiber UHPC tubes

This study presents an innovative composite column system featuring exceptional ductility and versatility, suitable for replacing traditional concrete columns or UHPC composite columns. The composite column, comprised of concrete-filled aligned steel fiber ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) tubes (ASFUTs), offers superior mechanical properties. Apart from its function as a formwork, the ASFUT provides exceptional rigidity and lateral confinement capabilities, enabling it to withstand substantial axial forces directly. Initially, steel fibers were aligned using an electromagnetic field. Computed Tomography (CT) imaging elucidated an average inclination angle of 16.36° between the fibers and the circumference of ASFUT sections. Compared to conventional UHPC, aligned steel fiber UHPC demonstrates an average 9.1 % increase in compressive strength and an average 129.67 % increase in maximum equivalent tensile. This enhancement can be attributed to the improved fiber bridging effect resulting from the orientation of fibers. Then, the mechanical properties of the concrete-filled ASFUT columns were evaluated by axial compression testing of eight specimens with different fiber contents, shapes, and orientations. The findings indicate that the ASFUTs outperform conventional concrete-filled UHPC tubes, exhibiting notable enhancements across various performance metrics. Specifically, at a fiber volume fraction of 1 %, the concrete-filled ASFUT exhibits a compressive strength, elastic modulus, ductility, and energy dissipation capacity that are 1.12 times, 1.03 times, 1.25 times, and 1.54 times respectively, in comparison to conventional concrete-filled UHPC tubes. Finally, an advanced predictive model for estimating the axial bearing capacity of ASFUT concrete columns was proposed, offering valuable insights for structural design optimization and widespread implementation.

Study on the regulation mechanism of interfacial mechanical properties of carbon fiber reinforced aluminum foam sandwich interface

Carbon fiber (CF) is often used to enhance the interfacial properties of porous metal sandwich panel, however, the regulation mechanism on the mechanical properties of the reinforced interface is not clear, which affects its guidance in application. In this study, the regulation mechanism of CF on the mechanical properties of aluminum foam sandwich (AFS) interface was studied from the perspectives of morphology and chemistry. Results showed the effects of CF modification time, modification temperature and content on the interface properties were synergistic. The interfacial strength increased and decreased afterwards as the modification time or temperature or content increased. Fibers aggregation caused by excessive fiber addition could decrease the interface strength. Self-locking and fiber bridging were the dominant reinforced modes and their effects increased as appropriate addition content increased. Guided by the results, the shear strength of AFS interface increased by 79.18 %, the energy absorption increased by more than four times.

Geoscience-engineering integration-based formation damage control drill-in fluid (GEI-FDC-DIF): An essential technology for successful extraction of deep mid-high permeability sandstone reservoirs

The impact of drilling-induced formation damage is often underestimated in deep mid-high permeability reservoirs, largely due to modest reductions in permeability reported by conventional evaluation methods. This study introduces an innovative geoscience-engineering integration-based formation damage control drill-in fluid (GEI-FDC-DIF) technology, specifically developed to mitigate the challenges posed by deep wells with open-hole completions. Utilizing comprehensive geological and engineering analyses, our methodology facilitates a multiscale space-time evaluation of formation damage, enabling precise quantification of its severity and evolution. Based on identified mechanisms, tailored GEI-FDC-DIF formulations and supporting process measures are developed to optimize formation damage control. Preliminary geological and engineering evaluations of the deep mid-high permeability sandstone reservoir highlight the acute risk of drilling-induced formation damage. Detailed quantitative analysis indicates fluid sensitivity and drill-in fluid induced permeability reductions ranging from 1.13% to 44.54% and 26.47%–65.55%, respectively, with absolute permeability declines extending into the hundreds of millidarcys. Invasion depths of drill-in fluids reach 3.9–56.6 m at 150 h and 7.6–92.6 m at 840 h, underscoring significant formation damage predominantly caused by solid plugging, fluid sensitivity, incompatibility, and oil phase permeability reduction. Incorporating a blend of acid-soluble fiber bridging, oil-soluble deformable temporary plugging agents, and liquid drainage enhancers, the GEI-FDC-DIF significantly improves plugging efficiency and filtrate flowback. The development and deployment of GEI-FDC-DIF have shown superior formation damage control capabilities, as corroborated by both laboratory and field applications, underscoring its promising potential for future use.

Transformation of waste carbon fiber prepreg into sustainable composites: Application in the automotive industry components

AbstractCarbon fiber (CF) prepregs are employed in the manufacture of many different aeronautical structural and non‐structural components. Following the cure of the prepregs in molds, trimming is generally used to give the final shape to the components. Considering the aircraft's vast surface area and the use of multiple prepreg layers in each component, an extensive amount of carbon fiber prepreg is discarded. The unique characteristics of carbon fibers render this CF waste highly valuable and requires its efficient recycling. Cured waste CF prepregs were milled and processed in this research to produce chopped carbon fibers for use in the novel composite development. The matrix material used in the composites was selected as recycled polypropylene sourced from old surgical masks, which highlighted the sustainability of the developed composites. To enhance the quality of the fiber‐matrix interface and improve the impact resistance of the composites an anhydride‐grafted polyethylene (Fusabond) was employed in small quantities. From mechanical characterizations, synergistic effects of the fillers were observed. Besides, compositions containing CF and Fusabond are found more impact resistant than neat matrix. In addition, the use of carbon fibers increased fracture toughness of the matrix through various mechanisms including fiber bridging, fiber pullout, and matrix plastic deformation identified by scanning electron microscopy fractography. Thermomechanical characterizations using dynamic mechanical analysis revealed that carbon fiber raises the neat matrix's glass transition temperature. The developed materials are intended to be employed in the automotive industry to produce inner fender liners, with an optimal composition determined by an optimization research.Highlights Carbon fiber (CF) derived from aerospace fresh scraps significantly improved the mechanical properties of the polymer matrix. Anhydride‐grafted polyethylene incorporation remarkably enhanced the impact resistance of the polymer. CF demonstrated a bridge effect and improved the fracture toughness of the composites. The use of recycled CF presents encouraging prospects in the automotive industry for the production of inner fender liners.

False banana fiber reinforced geopolymer composite – A novel sustainable material

A new geopolymer composite material was produced using low-calcium fly ash and false banana plant fiber. The effect of fiber content and length on the mechanical and microstructural properties of the resulting composite material was investigated. Results showed that the addition of alkali-treated false banana fiber significantly improved the compressive and splitting tensile strength of the composites. In particular, incorporating a 10 mm length fiber at a 1.4 % volume fraction increased compressive and splitting tensile strength by 31 % and 33 %, respectively, when compared to the pure geopolymer paste specimens. Furthermore, unlike the neat geopolymer paste specimens, all composites failed gracefully. In addition to this, FTIR absorption peaks and SEM micrographs demonstrated that alkali treatment effectively changes fiber morphology and chemical characteristics. Additionally, fiber pull-out, fiber bridging, and fiber fracture were identified as energy-absorbing mechanisms responsible for increasing the mechanical properties of the composites. In general, the results showed that using natural false banana fiber as reinforcement enhances the mechanical properties of geopolymer composites, making them a more environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic fibers in composite production.

Effect of post-peak flexural toughness on the residual performance of macro synthetic fibre reinforced concrete sleepers subjected to impact loading

Dynamic impact loading is one of the predominant causes of premature failure of concrete railway sleepers, demanding a fair portion of the railway budget. Therefore, macro synthetic fibre reinforced concrete (MSFRC) is suggested as an alternative owing to its improved post-peak flexural capacity, ductility and crack arresting properties. In such adaptation, the residual behaviour after dynamic impacts caused by wheel-rail irregularities governs the reusability and the life cycle of the sleepers. Correspondingly, the residual performance of impacted MSFRC sleepers was evaluated experimentally compared to conventional prestressed concrete sleepers. The residual behaviour of the sleepers was further supported by a series of material-scale flexural experiments. The fracture toughness of MSFRC increased with the crack-opening width because of the tension stiffening associated with fibre bridging. As a result, the residual capacity, stiffness, and toughness of MSFRC sleepers were higher than conventional sleepers, thereby improving their adaptability to the rail network.

Low-loss C-band all-fiber FIFO device by novel bridge fiber

Multi-core fibers (MCF) technology is the feasible path to extend the capacity of optical fiber communication systems. However, there is a lack of low-loss and low-crosstalk multi-core fan-in and fan-out (FIFO) devices for MCF communication in the C-band. In this paper, we proposed all-fiber FIFO devices with seven trench-assisted bridge fibers (TABFs). The special structure of the TABFs could facilitate the matching of single-core fiber with MCF during the tapering progress. By using the TABFs, the average taper loss was less than 0.06 dB. The novel method can reduce the insertion loss of FIFO devices. The experiments indicated that the fabricated FIFO devices exhibited lower than 0.50 dB insertion loss and less than −55.2 dB crosstalk in the C-band. This work provides novel TABFs and an efficient way to fabricate low-loss low-crosstalk FIFO devices for MCF communication systems.

Numerical Investigation of the R-Curve Effect in Delamination of Composite Materials Using Cohesive Elements

This paper presents a numerical investigation of the R-curve effect in delamination propagation in composite materials. The R-curve effect refers to the phenomenon whereby resistance to crack propagation increases with the advancement of the delamination, due to toughening mechanisms, such as fiber bridging. Numerical models often neglect this effect assuming a constant value of the fracture toughness. A numerical approach based on cohesive elements and on the superposition of two bilinear traction-separation laws is adopted here to accurately predict the R-curve effect in skin-doubler composite specimens subjected to three-point bending tests. The carbon-epoxy material presents two different sensitivities to the fiber bridging phenomenon resulting in two different R-curves. Comparisons with literature experimental data, in terms of load and delaminated area vs. applied displacement, and ultrasonic C-scan images show the effectiveness of the adopted approach in simulating the R-curve effect. The predicted numerical stiffness aligns with the experimental scatter, although the maximum load is slightly underestimated by approximately 15% compared with the average experimental results. The numerical model accurately predict the R-curve effect observed in the experimental data, demonstrating a 31% increase in the maximum load for the material configuration exhibiting greater sensitivity to fiber bridging.

Combined printable and mechanical analysis of 3D-printed green high-strength, lightweight engineered cementitious composites

This study used a novel eco-friendly lightweight sand fine (LSF) to prepare green lightweight and high-strength ECC (GLH-ECC) for 3D printing. Orthogonal design, analysis of variance, and analytic hierarchy process were first employed to explore the influence of water-to-binder ratio (WBR), LSF replacement rate (LRR), and fiber volume content (FVC) on the printability of ECC fresh mortar. The influence degree of three factors on the fluidity, consistency, and setting time of fresh ECC was FVC >WBR >LRR, LRR> FVC > WBR, and WBR> LRR >FVC, respectively. Besides, the scopes of fluidity, consistency, and setting time for ensuring the favorable printability of fresh GLH-ECC were 172–183 mm, 7.4–8.0 cm, and 5.3–5.9 h, respectively. A novel mechanistic parametric model was developed to establish a direct correlation between the fluidity, consistency, setting time, and buildability of GLH-ECC. Additionally, higher effective fiber content along the direction of printing and incorporated LSF in printable GLH-ECC provided more appropriate interfacial bonding between the fiber and matrix and resultant better fiber bridging ability, in contrast to the casting ECC. Moreover, the fiber orientation in the printable GLH-ECC tended to be arranged along the direction of printing, and the well-organized fiber orientation and more matrix pores in the interlayer interface of printable GLH-ECC led to the notable anisotropy of mechanical properties. This study inspires applications of 3D-printed GLH-ECC in digital construction without reinforcement in terms of excellent printability, impressive mechanical properties, light weight, and effective waste utilization.

Investigation of shear response due to variation of fiber volume fraction, transverse steel, and placement method on short span R/UHPC beams

This study investigates the response of small-scale, reinforced ultra high performance concrete beams. Seven specimens were cast and experimentally tested. Steel fiber volume fraction, amount of longitudinal and transverse steel reinforcement, and casting direction varied between specimens. High longitudinal reinforcement ratios of 4.1% and 9.5% were expected to drive relatively large shear demands and low steel fiber volume fractions of 0.5% and 1% were expected to decrease the UHPC’s ability to resist tension, shear, and compression. Specimens were either cast at one end or mid-span. All specimens failed in shear, as expected. R/UHPC beams with only 0.5% fibers and a stirrup spacing equal to half the beam’s depth carried more ultimate load than beams with 1% fibers and twice the stirrup spacing. At a 0.5% fiber volume fraction, UHPC performed well, exhibiting fiber bridging in tension and resisting spalling in compression. As longitudinal reinforcement ratio increased from 4.1% to 9.5%, load carrying capacity generally increased, but not proportional to the increase in steel. Placement method did not influence fiber orientation in the R/UHPC beams when measured in 2D planes transverse or longitudinal to the specimens’ major axis. The longitudinal and transverse reinforcement interrupted fiber flow and prevented significant fiber alignment; combined with the short span of the beams, these factors mitigated the influence of placement method.

Peanut shaped auxetic cementitious cellular composite (ACCC)

Auxetic cementitious cellular composites (ACCCs) exhibit desirable mechanical properties (e.g., high fracture resistance and energy dissipation), due to their unique deformation characteristics. In this study, a new type of cementitious auxetic material, referred to as peanut shaped ACCC, has been designed and subsequently architected using additive manufacturing techniques. Two peanut shaped ACCCs specimens with different pseudo-minor axes have been tested under uniaxial compression with Digital Image Correlation (DIC) to assess their compressive behavior, peak strength, Poisson’s ratio, and energy dissipation capacity. Additionally, cyclic tests were conducted to investigate their compressive resilience properties, further elucidated through microstructural analysis using a digital optical microscope. The mechanical test results were also compared with those of previously developed elliptical-shaped ACCCs. Furthermore, a numerical model was used to simulate the mechanical behavior of peanut shaped ACCCs under uniaxial compression, and showed a good agreement with the experimental data. The auxetic behavior observed in peanut shaped ACCCs arises from the rotation of sections facilitated by fiber bridging at the ligament of adjacent holes within the cementitious unit cell. In comparison to elliptical-shaped ACCCs, peanut shaped ACCCs can exhibit a slightly more negative Poisson's ratio and mitigate stress concentration. The reduction of stress concentration enables peanut shaped ACCCs to dissipate substantial energy, showcasing enhanced ductility and toughness. In cyclic tests, peanut shaped ACCCs exhibit superior recoverable deformation elasticity, attributed to robust fiber bridging capacity. The exceptional mechanical properties exhibited by peanut shaped ACCCs offer a scalable solution for developing energy-absorbent and multifunctional cementitious materials for smart infrastructure.

Investigation on interlayer debonding behavior of unidirectional composite laminates under cyclical hygrothermal aging duration effects

AbstractThe composite interlamination is the key part of load transfer and plays a decisive role in the overall mechanical performance of composite structures. The interlaminar property is predominantly influenced by the matrix resin which is easily affected by the hygrothermal environment. This paper delved into the effect of hygrothermal aging duration on the interlayer debonding behavior of unidirectional (UD) laminates. The pre‐cracked specimens were treated by hygrothermal aging with a period of 0, 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 days. The double cantilever beam (DCB) tests were employed to evaluate the interlaminar property. The effect of hygrothermal aging on load–displacement responses, R‐curves, crack growth speed, and fracture surface topography was analyzed. The results revealed that the load‐bearing capacity of aged specimens presented a reduction of 18.6%–29.0% compared with unaged ones. The interlaminar fracture toughness of specimens subjected to 15 days of treatment decreased significantly compared with that of unaged specimens due to the increase of water absorption caused by hygrothermal aging. With the increase in hygrothermal aging time, the interlaminar fracture toughness peaked at 60 days because of the post‐curing effect, followed by a declining trend influenced by the dominant hygrothermal aging effect. The fiber bridging of aged samples was increasingly obvious, became the most prominent at 60 days, and then gradually reduced. The fiber bridging diminished the crack propagation speed, hindered interlaminar debonding, and contributed to the interlaminar toughening.Highlights The samples underwent hygrothermal aging for 0, 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 days. Load ability of aged samples was at least 18.6% lower than that of unaged ones. R‐curves rose before the crack length of 79 mm and then tended to stabilize. Fracture toughness first decreased, then increased and reduced with aging time. Fiber bridging could hinder crack growth and improve the interlayer property.

A novel core-shell C/SiC bolt prepared by chemical vapor infiltration and its fiber strengthening mechanisms

Integrated manufacturing techniques have been extensively utilized to assemble thermal structural components made of continuous fiber reinforced silicon carbide composites (C/SiC) to fabricate large and complex components. The mechanical joint, always in terms of C/SiC bolts, become the weakest link in the components. Laminated C/SiC bolts have been invented to meet the requirements of the high temperature applications. Due to the low shear strengths of C/SiC, the threads are prone to be damaged. In order to fully employ the high tensile strength of carbon fibers, core-shell C/SiC bolt is proposed with the shell prepared by woven fiber architecture. Uniform circumferential microstructure of the threaded teeth has been obtained and the corresponding strength has been improved through fiber bridging mechanism. The results shows that the thread pull-off strength is 17.96% greater than that of the laminated thread tooth, and the stud tensile strength is slightly improved up to 2.96%. The stud shear strength is enhanced by 45.29% and 46.88% with unidirectional C/SiC rod and ZrO2 ceramic rod, respectively. The improvements are mainly caused by the fiber tension-shear coupling effects. Especially the introduction of unidirectional C/SiC rod improves the shear strength of the bolts by fully utilizing the fiber strengthening mechanisms under in-plane shear loading.

Fracture toughness and fiber bridging mechanism for mode-I interlaminar failure of spread-tow woven composites

Given the current lack of research data on the delamination behavior of spread-tow woven composites, this study aims to systematically characterize the mode-I interlaminar fracture behavior of plain weave spread-tow fabrics (STFs) composites. DCB tests were conducted to investigate the influence of different ply thicknesses, unit cell sizes, and interface angles on delamination behavior and fiber bridging. The experimental results revealed a stick–slip crack propagation behavior in mode-I delamination of studied material, and a detailed analysis was performed on the influence mechanism of unit cell size on this behavior. Fiber bridging was found to be the primary mechanism responsible for the increased interlaminar fracture toughness in the plain weave STFs composites. Fractography analysis indicated that regions rich in fibers and resin in thicker-ply laminates promote fiber bridging, while an interface angle inconsistent with the direction of crack propagation inhibits fiber bridging. The concept of average steady-state fracture toughness (average Gs) was introduced as a means to assess propagation fracture toughness and two methods were proposed to obtain bridging tractions for characterizing the fiber bridging phenomenon. The bridging tractions and average Gs were used as key parameters to establish a trilinear cohesive zone model (CZM) for simulating mode-I delamination. The numerical results aligned well with the experimental results, demonstrating the applicability of the parameter determination strategy based on the average Gs and bridging tractions for the selection of parameters to use in the CZM.

Seismic performance and damage analysis of steel-PVA hybrid fiber cementitious composites encased CFST columns

Using axial compression ratio, core concrete strength, steel tube thickness, and SPC strength as research variables, cyclic loading tests were conducted on 12 steel-polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hybrid fiber cementitious composites (SPC) encased concrete-filled steel tube（CFST）columns to study the seismic performance of specimens under earthquake action, including failure mode, strength, stiffness, ductility, energy dissipation, and second-order effects. According to the study's findings, fiber bridging enabled SPC-encased CFST columns to effectively prevent cracks and maintain high integrity even after failing. The axial compression ratio, core concrete strength, and lateral bearing capacity were positively correlated, with a maximum bearing capacity increase of 46.9%, but their deformation capacity had decreased to varying degrees. The thickness and SPC strength of the steel tube exhibited excellent performance in terms of deformation capacity and energy consumption, with a maximum ductility coefficient of 6.21. In the overall statistical analysis of research variables, it was found that composite columns with core concrete strength grades higher than outer SPC strength had better seismic performance compared to other specimens. This article proposed an improved Park-Ang damage model that effectively evaluates the damage status of SPC-encased CFST columns. The model complies with the boundary conditions of the composite column, and the damage development trend reflected is consistent with experimental phenomena.

Preparation of Li2Si2O5 fibers and their toughening effects on lithium disilicate glass-ceramics

To address the challenge of poor fracture toughness of lithium disilicate glass-ceramics, which hinders their application as posterior single crowns and three-unit fixed bridges, the concept of fiber toughening was employed. In this study, Li2Si2O5 fibers were successfully prepared through an electrospinning technology combined with sol-gel followed by a heat treatment. The fibers could be further densified by adding SiO2 nano-powder to partially replace TEOS as a silicon source and the possible mechanism was put forward. By using the fibers as the reinforcement phase, the uniform fiber-toughened Li2Si2O5 glass-ceramic composites were successfully produced by hot pressing sintering. These composites exhibited significant enhancements in mechanical properties, including a flexural strength of 315 ± 10 MPa, fracture toughness of 4.57 ± 0.35 MPa m1/2, and Vickers hardness of 5.61 ± 0.28 GPa, respectively. Notably, the highest fracture toughness of the composite increased by 41 % compared to the samples without fiber reinforcement, which was attributed to the toughening mechanisms including crack deflection, fiber bridging, and fiber pull-out. The results demonstrated the advantages of Li2Si2O5 fibers in toughening glass-ceramic materials, thereby expanding the application areas of this material.